Ever wonder what to stockpile?

There are some basic things to think about when creating and maintaining a stockpile:

• Will you use it? If the answer is no, you probably don’t want to stockpile it in your house (buying a few on a good deal to donate, that’s a different story).
• How much of it will you use? Be realistic. A family of 9 will use more of most things than a family of 4.
• How fast will the item go bad? Fresh items, not so long – HBA items, can be good for several years.
• Where will you put it? There’s a fine line between a stockpile and a monster that takes on a life of it’s own. Having an organization system and a plan will help you make the most of your time and money when stockpiling.
• Is it a good price? The point of having a stockpile is to save money. Get items on sale and with coupons when you can get them at rock bottom prices and avoid having to pay retail for them later or in bulk online from places like Amazon.com.

Thirty Good Items to Stockpile

::Pantry::

Peanut Butter – It usually has a good 1 1/2 years date on it and it’s a great source of protein.

Canned Fruit and Veggies – Yes, fresh is better, but canned options are better than going without.

Boxed Pasta – Lasts like what seems like forever!

Canned/Jarred Sauces – Tomato based sauces also make a good “veggie” serving.

Canned Meat – Tuna – Shelf life is long and it’s a great protein source.

Canned Soup – Great for a quick meal and they have a long shelf life

Boxed Potatoes and Rice – They make great sides in a hurry and have a great shelf life.

Cereal/Oatmeal – Cereal can often be purchased for as low as $.50 and other deals have made it free. Usually pretty good shelf dates on cereal.

Crackers

Dressing – Mayo, mustard, ranch, bbq. Pretty long shelf life on many, but keep an eye on those dates, egg and dairy based items have much shorter dates.

::Freezer::

Microwavable Meals – Sometimes, you just need fast from the freezer.

Ice Cream and Popsicles – They make for nice treats and taste better when purchased on sale with a coupon.

Pancakes and French Toast – They freeze well and reheat easily (microwave for pancakes, popped into the toaster for french toast). Make them yourself and store them or grab a great deal.

Frozen Juice Concentrate – They take up less space than the cartons from the dairy section and are WAY less expensive per ounce.

Frozen Veggies – Microwavable or the kind you boil. Either way, they are a fast and nutritious side dish in a hurry!

Frozen Potatoes – As a side or in a casserole they are a great staple to keep on hand.

Breaded Meat – Chicken Patties/Nuggets, Fish Sticks and Corn Dogs. This is the ultimate, “I Don’t Feel Like Cooking” staple. I’ve not yet found a variety of any of the above that don’t work well. 20 minutes at 350 (that works for EVERYTHING listed, no matter what the package says!) and a side of fries. Done. Better yet, since they all cook at the same temp and time, let each kid pick their combo and cook them all at once.

Cheese – Chunk or Shreds, you can freeze both. Then, when ready to use, pull out and thaw in fridge in a day or about an hour on the counter for shredded. Just know that chunk cheese will crumble after it thaws, it won’t make pretty cracker cuts.

Quality Frozen Pizza – Nnot talking $1.00 cheapies. Tossing this in the over saves a TON over ordering take out.

Prepared Meals – Make and freeze them yourself or grab family sizes on a sale.

::HBA::

Toothpaste – You should be able to stock up on free toothpaste often through the drug stores.

Shampoo/Conditioner – You can often get these for free or better.

Toothbrushes – Every time a new style comes out, it seems like you can get them for free.

Razors – Same as the toothbrushes. Why not? And refills on the expensive one? Nope. When you get the razors for free or make money on them…use them and go.

Deodorant – Another item you can often get for free. Even when not free, you can almost monthly find it for under $.50.

Body Wash/Bar Soap – Sometimes free, often under $1.00.

Toilet Paper – There are often great Amazon Toilet Paper Deals posted here, you should check them out.

Body Lotion

Face Wash

**Guys…this last one is not for you!*

Feminine Hygiene – There has been a nice war going on between major manufacturers the last couple years. One brand will go on sale, then another. It keeps those of us watching the sales well stocked for next to nothing.

What do you stockpile?